WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of Iowans will put on their winter coats after supper Monday, wander out to public buildings across the state, and begin the process of picking a U.S. president.

The candidates they select aren’t guaranteed the presidential nomination – far from it. Iowa’s top finishers merely divvy up a few dozen delegates among the thousands who’ll choose the Republican and Democratic nominees.

Those meagre statistical stakes help explain why Iowa has such a spotty track record at picking presidential nominees: less than a third of Republicans who win the state vote go on to take the